Posted: 8/9/05
Young actors shine in ëBeauty & The Beastí
More than 50 local youths from ages 6-16 performed in the Prairie Fire Childrenís Theatreís original musical version of ìBeauty and The Beast.î
The shows on August 5 and 6 capped a week of auditions and rehearsals.
The theatreís residency is being sponsored by Caledonia Community Education.
Prairie Fire Theatre professional John Swader, who co-directed the production with Ashley Mills Brummitt, said that Caledonia had ìa pretty good turn-outî with 55 participants. The production can accommodate 71 children.
The Caledonia stop was number nine of 12 for the production. The participants here were well-behaved and picked up their parts quickly, said Swader, who is from Murfreesboro Tennessee. ìThis is a nice facility too so that helps,î he added.
The goal is for the kids to have fun and learn a little bit about the arts at a young age so that they may have some interest in it when they get older. ìItís a wonderful experience,î Swader said.
It is also good for him and Brummitt, who got to act in the play. ìWe really get a whole lot of things that go along with theater, not just the acting aspect,î he added.
Cast and crew
Beauty was played by Chelsea McManimon-Moe, and the Prince was played by Royal Sonsalla.
Family members included Ashleigh Carstensen, Evan Privet, Nathan Hagerott, Annie Schoenecker, Alecia Welscher, Zoe Lidstrom, Amelia Lidstrom, Heidi Miller, and Cara Stemper.
Servants included Selena Privet, Bradley Strub, Astri Runningen, Hannah Hendel, Jeremy DeWall, Hannah Felten, and Lyndon Becker.
Gargoyles were played by Zeb Jandt, Lewis Miller, Nick McGraw, Zach McGraw, Zeki Ott, Tristin Ott, Aaron Goetting, Emily Rud, Claire Eglinton, Irene Abbott, and Jayde Schoh.
Gypsies were Shelby DeWall, Rachel Felten, Remi Sonsalla, Ida Abbott, Benny Goetting, Katie Davini, Emily Hagerott, Meggan Scanlan, Danny Welscher, Heather Bruening, Shea Goetting, Jordan Gerard, Rachel Strub, Jessica Springar, and Serenity Meyer,
The Madrigals were Lydia Petersen, Emily Klug, and Bridget Macomber
Roses were Mariah McCabe, Erin Schultz, Kendra Heim, and Maddie Milz.
Music and lights were done by Micah Crawford, Casey Klug, and Laura Eglinton.
Caledonia Argus
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